DJ Rahdu – Shifting Gears (Mix)

The passing of Malik “Phife” Taylor affected me more profoundly than the death of any previous musical celebrity to date. I never met him personally but bonded with A Tribe Called Quest’s aesthetics as a Freshman in high school. During this period of self discovery I began to select music that was derived from my tastes, not the influence of my peers and immediately felt a connection to the “Bohemian” band of brothers. Their nonconformist approach to style and music set them apart from their counterparts who embraced them wholly and showed others, me specifically, that standing out isn’t always the polar opposite of fitting in. The sentiment was much-needed at the time and still holds true to this day.
Phife’s passing sucked the desire to listen to, enjoy, and share music from me. Only when I began to prep for my DJ gig in St Louis this past weekend did I begin to rediscover the joy I find in music. Grief affects us all differently I suppose. This mix is my release of the sadness I felt and a true expression of my love of music. Thank you for your patience during this time and I’ll resume providing consistent quality content on BamaLoveSoul shortly. Until then, enjoy